pheasant sighting

[Gordie]

Had to go to a funneral today in Gillman and so I to the back roads there WOW what numbers of pheasants we seen this morning on the drive there (wishing I had the camera with) must of bee 40 plus birds most of them eating graval on the shoulder of the roads. hope this is a good sign that the snow and ice storms didnt let the poulation suffer to badly in this area.

Just an FYI

[harvey lee]

Just the other day I went for a drive after my morning coffee and to my suprise, boy did I see birds.

I guess they got through this rough weather pretty darn good. I noticed that there are many feeding birds along the road.

[CRAZYEYES]

A buddy and I drove up to Glenwood the other day via hwy 55 and we saw some birds but not that many. We did see a couple big groups just north of town though. It doesnt sound like they got the snow up that way like they got maybe an hour west of there. The cover still looks pretty well buried but there are still quite a few corn fields that never got picked and many fields that didnt get tilled this year so as long as the snow doesnt get too deep they should be able to find food.

[lawdog]

Its a good/bad thing I think. Its good they didn't get killed in the storm, but its actually bad to be seeing that many. They are out all day trying to get food/grit and they have almost no cover, that's why you see them all, but so do the predators and if they were well nourished they wouldn't be out scratching for food all day long...

Lots of winter left and these birds are stressed big time already.

[Gordie]

Most of these birds were eating gravel on the side of the road but there was also standing corn and quite a bit of it close by in most of the places I saw birds granted not all of the birds I sw were that close to the standing corn but there was ample cover in those areas. the snow isnt as bad as it is in sw Minn so I think that is a big plus for these birds

[CaptainBly]

Was in SW MN over the weekend and there were alot of birds out. Most were out scratching along the roads. The corn that was left in the fields was all drifted in, all the ears were buried. But as long as the weather coroperates, that should help out alot.

[Musky Buck]

I was extremely thankful to the county for crushing that ice on the gravel I live on, since I'm the only lonely on the road it usually is the last one to get worked, now the birds can easily get some grit. Been fortunate in my area at least when it's been cold there's been little to no wind and with plenty of fairly mild stretches, each bit is a plus for them, also haven't seen the harriers for 10 days or so, must have moved on and the coyote/fox boys came for permission and hopefully had some luck, need to ? them on how many birds/tracks they noticed. I also get a nice little deer report usually.

[zepman]

Was in SW MN over the weekend and there were alot of birds out. Most were out scratching along the roads. The corn that was left in the fields was all drifted in, all the ears were buried. But as long as the weather coroperates, that should help out alot.

I was down in the Jackson/Fairmont area yesterday and saw a TON of birds...all working the roads. I know they're stressed out but it was nice seeing that many birds still running around.

[harvey lee]

Many birds are out along the roads in my area. Guys are really hauling corn out in the better areas.

[lawdog]

if you are feeding, don't put it too close to those roads guys! Don't need the birds harassed or hit by every car going by. Bad enough they have to get up there to find any grit.

We are hauling corn. Not much choice. Even the good areas of cover are full of snow and the food is way buried...

[Jmnhunter]

listened to KFAN last week, and a guy from PF was mentioning that its a bad sign to see vast numbers of roosters during the day due to the fact they should be in cover during the day...

[Musky Buck]

This morning 7:20ish, saw many pheasants, way more than I was expecting, other than the hawk chasing them it was great to see. I would guess there were 40-50 birds running/flying/scrambling for cover. The way it looked the hawk struck out.

[Musky Buck]

Getting the 4:45 pheasant report, they sure are liking this slow melt going on, they are traveling now pecking away, hawks are really keeping an eye on them, but having poor luck I hope. This morning was way cool, had 30 turkeys on my left, 50 pheasants on my right and on the standing corn edge stood maybe 5-6 deer. Spring is in route, not that March can't brew up some nasty weather yet or even early to mid April. Hope everyone is seeing an ample supply, hope for good nesting success !!!

[Musky Buck]

Evening zilch, nothing around. This AM again, craziness turkeys and pheasants and even a token ruffed grouse on the gravel. Even saw a rooster strutting 6-7 hens and many rooster groups, 3 huge Toms were struttin their stuff. Mornings have been great and I think with this weather lots of these birds have left the standing corn as they are finding a lot of things to eat in the same area possibly returning to the corn for afternoon/evening last feed.

[Tom7227]

take a camera along on these jaunts and share with us.

[Musky Buck]

No doubt, the birds appeared to be more concerned about like playing around than they were about eating. I'll see if I can pry the digital away from my wife. I'll do my best to get some footage. I love these 3 big toms that are fluffed up every morning sitting with the gals and yoly, young of last year. I think to a bit why there are so many roosters in this area is I haven't seen a pheasant hunter around here and I've lived in the area since 1996. I hope your areas are holding strong, here's to hoping for a great hatch yet better weather.

[Musky Buck]

Sighted a rooster pheasant last night only to watch a bald eagle make mince meat out of him a couple of seconds later, wish I had video of that event, it was amazing.

[pureinsanity]

Is it fall yet ???

[muc33]

great question!